Van Gaal warns players against doing a Gerrard

Van Gaal has won each of his last three meetings with Liverpool since becoming United boss in summer 2014, and will hope to maintain his perfect record at Anfield on Sunday.

The last fixture between these two sides at Anfield – a 2-1 win for United – heralded the last for Gerrard, with the Liverpool captain sent off within 30 seconds of entering as a second-half substitute.

Van Gaal has warned his players against following the example of the midfielder, who is now at LA Galaxy, in a typically heated clash.

Asked whether this was still the biggest game in the Premier League, Van Gaal replied: “It is how the fans see it. I feel it also already four times.

“We have played each other four times – in the USA and the league. You can see it in the faces of the players. Last season for example, Gerrard is on and sent off within 30 seconds.

“That is not happening so much. We need to be aggressive, but also under control in these kind of matches.

“But that is always difficult, because the passion to play these kind of games is always high.”

After being backed by managerial rival Jurgen Norbert Klopp earlier on Friday, Van Gaal spoke highly of the German.

“You can see his hand and that is very important when he is the manager,” Van Gaal said. “You can see a very aggressive and pressing kind of play in Liverpool’s game.

“Of course, he has to learn also the Premier League, the rhythm of the Premier League, and I think he knows already the difference between the Premier League and German League.

“But he is very capable to be a manager in the Premier League because he has always played this kind of football and I think the fans shall love it.”